WITH regard to the article featuring Ian Richardson on the replica Halifax in the Yorkshire Air Museum (The Press, March 29), I cannot let an item on this exhibit pass without mentioning the late Ian Robinson, whose efforts over several long years finally resulted in the unveiling of this aircraft.

Although Bomber Command had that previous high losses, the Nuremberg attack resulted in them Bomber Command having the highest losses ever in the course of the war.

This one attack resulted in more men being killed than Fighter Command had in the whole of the Battle of Britain.

Finally, I would like to draw attention to a short extract from Martin Middlebrook’s book on Nuremberg.

On the evening of this attack, some press correspondents and photographers had visited Snaith and watched 17 Halifaxes take off on this mission .

“They watched and waited so considerately while the lads were coming in but, as the time went on, they too became aware that there were some losses.

“I shall never forget the faces of two of them – both middle-aged – when it was quietly put to them that six crews were unaccounted for, forty lads out of the 119 they had watched take off into the night sky.

“The notebooks and cameras were put away and there owners quietly left, obviously not wishing to intrude on our feelings.” Sgt Bailey No 51 Squadron Snaith.

M C Usherwood, Mendip Close, Huntington, York.